Tiger Woods: (Golf) Swing and a Miss

Tiger Woods.

Yep, once again I can just type in a celebrity name, and it will conjure up images of cringe-worthy news reports and tabloid covers. Pretty much these days, I can come up with a new one every week.

But this celebrity scandal has a different dimension. This time, I want to look at the horrific public relations tactics that went into this situation, and how we should deal with the constant news.

Many times people believe that staying silent is the best way to both ignore the situation and to take the high road. In this instance though, Tiger's PR person failed. Miserably. Because of the way Tiger was seen in the public, and because of how the cheating situation was started (mysterious car crash?) all added to the silence that ended up hurting him, rather than helping him. For more on that issue, this article explains what I just briefly mentioned.

What I'm here to do, is to show you why public relations is important in pop culture, and therefore why we should learn from it.

All PR majors in college should have learned the fundamentals of crisis communications. Number one rule, is honesty. You can't possibly be honest if you aren't saying anything. This is a huge mistake that many celebrities make. What we have to remember, is to take a look at what these people actually say, and then take it with a grain of salt. Sure, that sounds depressing, but it's the truth.

We put these celebrities on a pedestal, and when it comes to scandal, we need to learn to take a step back. In the Tiger situation, it's all about seeing the silence for what it really was.

Now that an apology letter has come out, you have to ask yourself...too little, too late?

Celebrity Endorsements: Good or Bad?

It's that time of year again. Thanksgiving, moving quickly into Christmas, and all the cheesy goodness that comes along with those jewelry commercials everyone moans and groans about but secretly enjoy watching.

But sometimes there is more than a superficial couple handing each other necklaces and watches that can turn a stoic person to mush. For me, it's the commercials for different national charities. St. Jude's Children's Hospital ads specifically. Recently, while I was enjoying some reality TV, an image of Jennifer Aniston and a young child with cancer appeared on the screen. It was a short commercial, only about thirty seconds, but it had an effect one me, as I'm sure it did to many others as well.

But was it the image of the little girl, or the power of a celebrity that made us pay attention?

It's not rare to see celebrities endorsing different causes. In fact, it kind of comes with the territory. It is a very powerful Public Relations tool and I think it's a fabulous way to draw attention to a cause. Sometimes I question though, whether the celebrity actually feels a connection to what they're endorsing, or if it's just a ploy to better their public image.

In the case of Jennifer Aniston though and this commercial, I felt as though it was real. You could tell that she cared about what she was talking about...even though she is an actor, you can't fake real caring and real passion.

Celebrity endorsements, if done right, are a good thing.

But what are your thoughts? Watch the video below, and judge for yourself.

Kim Kardashian and PR...why not?

Celebrities and Public Relations. I don't know about you, but I don't necessarily think of those two going together. The term "crisis management" seems more relevant. It's far too often that we see these young celebrity's lives being turned into a media circus with a head shaving (sorry Ms. Spears), a nasty divorce battle (yes, you Jon and Kate Gosselin), or just by being a plain old mess (Lindsay Lohan, you know I'm talking about you).

Yet the words celebrity and public relations can very much go together, or at least that's what Kim Kardashian claims. Yes, I know, I can't even take myself seriously after typing that sentence. But still, as much as we may hate to admit it, Kim Kardashian has made a lot of...well pretty much nothing. And to add to her list of accomplishments, she's going to be producing a show focusing on the world of PR. Specifically, celebrities and the world of PR.

The show will focus on Jonathan Cheber and Simon Huck of Command Public Relations, a firm with branches in Los Angeles, Miami and New York.

Kardashian herself is a big believer in the duo, stating to People.com that "...they focus on corporate PR and building brands; they don't represent any individuals so they see the bigger picture. They see how to make a celebrity into a brand."

While I'm impressed with her wording, only time will tell if this show is going to legitimately demonstrate PR tactics...or just be a thirty minute segment of schmoozing with celebs. I'll try to watch with an open mind...don't disappoint me Kim!

While not much is known about the debut of the show, People. com is reporting that it should air sometime in 2010, but the cable channel that picked it up is unknown at this time.

Michael Jackson: Greatest Ever?

How can I not mention Michael Jackson in this blog? I mean, honestly, the guy was a legend. A legend who passed too quickly in many people's opinions...mine included. Yet, the infamous MJ was also a mystery. I can't even list all of the strange quirks that are related to the name "Michael Jackson." There's the skin color issue, the pedophilia issues, oh and dare I mention, the Hang-Your-Baby-Over-A-Balcony issue. But these are all negative portrayals of the man who lived such a mysterious life. And this is what makes me cringe at all of the media's coverage about this man, as these suspicious parts of Jackson's life are being largely overlooked.

They are saying "a great man" has died. They are saying "the greatest ever" has died. Now, not meaning to be a pot stirrer...well okay, maybe a little bit...I beg to differ. Not only was Michael Jackson a mystery, but he was like a metal pole to a giant controversy-magnet.

I will admit, he was an outstanding performer. It could be argued he was the "the best performer" or "a musical genius". I cannot argue with that, and I will even vouch for it having grown up with his music and his videos. The man was brilliantly talented and created timeless music that I think will last forever.

But to call this man who was so riddled with problems "the greatest ever" is a little over the top in my book. I know there are die hard fans of his who would probably slap me if they read this blog, but it is simply my opinion. I will never underrate his music, his artistic vision, or his genius in the recording industry. I stop short at celebrating his personal life and his oddities. Sure, they made him an individual, but I don't believe they merit any unnecessary labeling.

Maybe all of the media over the years were completely off base about Jackson. Who am I to judge what he did in his personal life.

Except we're all judges. We all see celebrities in the media, and we all judge. Some call it living vicariously through the rich and famous, others call it creepy stalking.

Call it what you want, we're all guilty of it.

Sometimes what we view in the media spotlight molds our beliefs, just like in the coverage of Michael Jackson, where only the surface is being discussed. Look closer, look deeper, and make up your own mind.

Megan Fox: Hot or Not?

How can you not find Megan Fox attractive? I'm pretty sure every man wants to be with her and every woman wants to BE her. One of the stars of the huge blockbuster hit Transformers and the soon-to-be released sequel, she has exploded onto the pop culture scene. With her stunning good looks, she has become a number-one target for magazine covers.

That's where her charm goes downhill. Fast.

In numerous articles she curses, talks about smoking weed, lesbian affairs, and manipulating men. 

Is she still as beautiful as you thought before?

Well, maybe to some her dirty mouth only adds to her sex appeal. After I read those articles though, I suddenly didn't have any desire to be Megan Fox anymore. In fact, whenever I look at her in pictures or on the television, I get a little angry. 

I don't necessarily believe that every young actress should be the spitting image of a virginal angel who is only captured in pictures at charity events or helping children in foreign countries (cough, Angelina Jolie, cough). In fact there is a little part of me that applauds Megan Fox in her ability to be so open and to not conform to the Hollywood norm. Yet, a bigger part of me only sees her quotes as crude, unbecoming, and even childish. 

Maybe she sees herself as the next Marilyn Monroe (she has a large tattoo of the late beauty on her forearm) but I don't think Monroe is remembered for talking about dating strippers, putting down other actresses, or calling men 'weak'. There is a fine line that I believe Megan Fox has taken a tiny step over. 

In order to be respected, you have to respect others. 

And that's a life lesson everyone should follow, not just popular, beautiful, rich actresses. 

Dancing With the Stars Fills Our Hearts

I'm not sure how many people my age actually tune into Dancing With the Stars on ABC every week, but I am sure that it has become one of the biggest staples of our culture within the past few years. 

Why?

Personally I believe this is because everyone can watch it. Literally, everyone. It's a show that you don't have to be afraid to turn on in front of your young children, and it's a show that even the elderly can tune into and enjoy. It's the most simple formula for a television show, but for some reason it's been working. 

I think that our culture finds it a breath of fresh air, amid all of the police and hospital dramas. The reason I love it is because it includes dance, and anything including dance I'm sure to tune into. But for many adults, they enjoy Dancing With the Stars because it just gives off a happy atmosphere. I don't know how you can watch the glitzy sets and full orchestra and not feel happy. 

Besides, with this years finale having so many audience votes that the winning margin was only 1%, it is obvious people don't just like watching it, they like being involved with it. Interactive shows have become huge, and Dancing With the Stars is no exception. Knowing that you have a part in deciding the winnter just encourages more viewers. 

Plus, there is something endearing about celebrities (or has-been celebrities) getting so into a competition where the only prize is a gaudy mirror ball trophy. True, it has been known to boost otherwise stagnant careers, but for the most part it appears that the stars really enjoy the experience and that pulls in viewers as well. You can feel their vulnerability and therefore feel like you can connect with them in ways you would be able to if they weren't on the show.

Tune in next fall for the next season of DWTS...personally I don't know if I'll make it until then!

Vintage Pop Culture?

 

I've been told for years that the things I find so fashionable now have already been worn...and worn better...in other decades. Adults seem to tell kids this all the time and I can't count the amount of times my own mother has told me this. Flared jeans so reminiscent of bell-bottoms from the 1970's, capris look just like "pedal-pushers" from the 1960's, and the bob hairstyle similar to the look flappers went for in the 1920's. 

In fact, our world seems to be in the midst of a throwback era...movies, fashion, and popular fads are all reverting to past decades and creating a new kind of vintage pop culture.

Star Trek, Transformers,  and 3-D movies are making a come back. Trekkies of the world, unite as the iconic television show and movie franchise that started in the 1960's, has become the biggest movie in theaters this week. Transformers, the popular toys that originated in the 198o's have become a hugely successful series of movies starring some of the biggest stars of today. And 3-D movies, that became popular in the 1950's are also making a comeback with popular kids movies being available in 3-D like Up and the Jonas Brothers new movie.

Vintage fashion is exploding, with vintage style coats, dresses, and hats that all relate to past decades, especially the 1950's and 60's. Hairstyles and make-up trends also relate to past eras with the bob being a trendy cut and bright red lipstick and "cat-eye" eyeliner being prevalent in make-up today. Also, braids seem to be coming back into style along with a more natural face with less make up making a sort of hippie/bohemian style as well. 

It's very obvious when you walk into a girls dorm room that the 1950's and 1960's are important when you see the amount of Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe and James Dean posters hanging on the walls. The glamour and elegance of that era is something that girls look up to and strive to gain in their own lives.

It can't be denied that we look and base fads on what was popular in the past...but lately it's become more and more obvious that we enjoy the fads of yesteryear quite a bit. I can't wait to look back on the 2000's and see if the ridiculous fads of our generation can make a comeback 50 years down the road and be as influential as the past is to us today.

Celebrites are REAL PEOPLE?

It is always only a matter of time before something sweet and innocent is twisted and sent into a tailspin right before the American public's eyes. It's a very common occurrence. Just look at the past few Miss America pageants (especially the most recent one with Miss Prejean's remark about "opposite marriage"...I'm not even going to comment on that...) and the teenage stars who go through naked photo scandals and ruin (or sometimes boost) their careers. 

I've become used to the crazy lives celebrities lead, but when these type of stories are plastered one every magazine cover and on repeat on E! News, and they DON'T involve what I would call celebrities...that's when I question what is going on?!

The example I'm going to use is Jon and Kate Plus Eight. You know, the couple who has a set of twins and sextuplets and their own show on TLC. The show that is loved by millions. Yet, when you think of celebrities, middle aged parents of eight don't pop into your mind right away. But I can't seem to get away from their faces when I walk into a grocery store, or turn on the television. 

Why? Just your average cheating scandal that involves a younger woman. 

At least, it would seem average if it was Lindsay Lohan or Angelina Jolie. But not this time...this time it's a seemingly normal suburban family. This time it's a seemingly REAL life. 

Besides the obvious questions, (like, Jon what in the world were you thinking?) I've come to the realization that we don't see celebrities as real. If I had a sister who was going through the same things Amy Winehouse or Britney Spears are going through, I would be much more inclined to be crying and stressed, rather than pointing and laughing like I do now. These celebrities are too far away from our reality to seem real. When, in reality, they are anything but fake.

If that wasn't enough to make your brain hurt, I'm going to leave you with a question.

SHOULD we take the time to realize that celebrities are real and feel sympathy for their problems...or is it a facet of their lifestyle that they chose and we should continue to fool ourselves into thinking they are our entertainment, and nothing else.

It's food for thought...

Susan Boyle: You Rule the World

Unless you have been living under a rock, you must have at least heard of Susan Boyle. Even the hippie in my English class who probably spends more time sitting on a sidewalk playing his guitar than keeping up on pop culture, knew about Susan Boyle.

The fantastically talented middle-aged woman with looks that caused doubt before she even opened her mouth to sing on Britain's Got Talent, has felt the power of ruling the world. Or at least, ruling the media.

Yes, it's a lesson on a "don't judge a book by it's cover" type issue. But it's also a lesson on media tactics. As soon as something out of the ordinary happens, the media jumps all over it. When something out of the ordinary that has the power to bring people to tears happens...a media storm happens. As is the case with Susan Boyle. 

This is understandable. We want to see happy stories. We want to see what we don't see in the media. For the most part, "hard-hitting" news is serious, sad, depressing and "pop-ish" news is light, fluffy, and fun. When there comes a story that is a cross-over type...just like Susan Boyle, we embrace it. We love it and we want more. 

Who can blame us? Happy is easy. Susan Boyle thank you for ruling the world. At least for the time being.

Twilight Nonsense

So, Twilight.

What more can be said than hasn't already been mentioned?

It is probably one of the most talked about series of books I have ever heard of. And yes, I'm guilty of reading them. (Although I can't quite get through the last one...)

I have come into contact with the obnoxious fans of this series too many times to count. When I say "The books were good...I think Harry Potter was better..." I get screams of indignation and death glares. 

When I say "Edward is kind of a jerk to Bella in a lot of ways." I get replies somewhere along the lines of "HE IS THE PERFECT MAN."

Okay. He's the perfect man if you like the whole "I'm not so much in love with YOU, as I am with sucking your blood...you just happen to be a nice girl..." type of man.

I admit, I was sucked into the fantasy-vampire-filled world just like all the other teen girls around the world. Yet, the more I think about it, the more I've come to realize it's gotten a little out of hand...and when I say out of hand, I mean that we've lost track of what we're really appreciating here.

While I don't fully believe Stephenie Meyer is a fantastic writer, she definitely does have a way of pulling in teenaged girls to fall in love with her characters. These are marketing skills at their BEST. I actually must applaud Ms. Meyer for being able to create such a stir in all of America. I won't spend my time here analyzing the ridiculous plot lines, or the crazy characters that have been made into household names in this entry. 

Instead, I want to just throw it out there, that while many believe the Twilight series is pure literary genius, and many believe it's a laughable excuse for literary genius, I just want to say that no matter what your opinion of the books are, you must give them and the author credit.

When something like a new series of books becomes as virally popular as these have, it's a testament to true talent. Talent in writing, or talent in marketing...you be the judge. All I'm saying is that you mustn't discount what the Twilight series has done for the teenagers of the world.

Creating unrealistic ideas of men, or sparking a generation of readers, the impact the series has had on us, is profound.

And that's not even delving into the movie...that's another blog post completely.

Oscar Award winners bring depth to cinema

One of the great things that happens to students at Ohio University, is the access to newly released movies for free at our student center. Just a couple of weeks ago, an Oscar Award winning movie event was given, where a few of the Academy Award winning movies from 2009 were shown. I went to see The Reader and Revolutionary Road.

It was an absolutely moving experience.

The Reader is a movie about love, lust, and Nazi war crimes. Sound unusual? Maybe it was, but it was certainly beautiful. I have never seen a movie that held so much emotional depth, and so much historical meaning. Starring Kate Winslet, the movie held my interest until the very end. I loved how it switched back and forth so the audience could see the character lives progress, slowly discovering secrets and learning about the hidden lives of the main characters.

While Kate Winslet won the Oscar for her role, the young man named David Kross who played the main character Michael Berg, as a young boy, was a real star in my eyes. His performance was stellar.

Completely flipping sides, Revolutionary Road  was probably the complete opposite of The Reader but just as great.

This movie also starred Kate Winslet, but also brought along Leonardo DiCaprio, reuniting the lovely pair from Titanic. This is what had drawn me to see the movie, but when I saw how their relationship differed in this movie, I was shocked.

Instead of a lustful, crazy-in-love relationship like Rose and Jack had been a part of, Frank and Alice's relationship in Revolutionary Road was cold and bitter, showing the cracks in a marriage during the 1950's, where it was incorrect to look human. Instead Frank and Alice felt the need to be the perfect family, the perfect spouses, and the perfect people. All the while, they struggled to find the real meaning in their lives, ending with a stunning series of scenes that everyone should see.

Overall, both movies were wonderful. Very different...but very meaningful. I'm usually a sucker for romantic comedies, but I have a newfound respect for serious dramas. They can really deliver a message and I fully believe that they have the power to change lives. I am definitely going to be watching more dramas in my future, and suggest that everybody do the same. They may not be the happiest, but they almost always deliver a strong message.

Oh, how the tables have turned...

At tonight's PRSSA meeting, we were lucky enough to have two OU alumnae, M.J. Clark and Jessica Hamlin join us and give us tips on the interview process for jobs and internships, and basically discussed things that we may not have thought of when it comes to life in the PR industry.

One topic of discussion was blogs. Jessica Hamlin suggested that we all blog about "our passions". Now I'll be the first to admit, this blog has no real direction, and this statement hit home. I need to focus on things that I think matter. I need to find a real area to explore, not just stick out my feelers and write about whatever suits my fancy! 

This got me thinking. My passions seem sort of trivial to the world of PR...dance, literature, cinema...do you see a trend?

That's when it hit me. 

What is my specialization...Fine Arts and English.

What have I enjoyed all my life...Fine Arts and English.

What is my passion...Fine Arts and English.

Therefore, what should my blog be about?

You got it...Fine Arts and English.

I'm going to try to focus on the Fine Arts of the world...more specifically the art that is affecting the United States from around the world. I want to include dance, music, literature, theatre...all of the things that make me happy and make me forget about my stressful life. 

This is going to be a trial run...hopefully in an effort to find my true passions and develop a following, I'll realize if it is the right choice or not. 

Wish me luck! And the title and web address are likely to change...hopefully a change for the better!

Gone With the Wind: Southern Values: Right or Wrong?

Gone With the Wind = outstanding movie. 

Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable = outstanding actors.

233 minutes = not so outstanding.

Yet, I find myself being intrigued the entire way though. Usually, with most movies I lose interest after 2 hours. But there is something so wonderful and glamorous about this movie that makes me stare at the screen, wondering what is going to happen next, even though I've seen it multiple times. 

There is an aspect of Gone With the Wind  that really makes me think though. The entire movie is set in the South, and is focused on the Civil War. Having grown up learning that Southern values around the time of the war were horribly wrong, and that all of the people living in the South were cruel to their slaves and were white supremacists, the first time I saw this movie confused me.

The movie somewhat debunks these claims that I learned in school. The O'Hara family owns slaves...but by the middle of the movie they work together more than they work against each other. We learned in Black Media last quarter of the "mammy" character, which is obviously represented in the character of Scarlett's maid who is appropriately named...Mammy.  Mammy and Scarlett have a very close relationship, yet the separation between boss and maid is still very clear. 

Even with these separate roles between the slaves and the owners, the relationship between the two groups is much different than you learn in a textbook in seventh grade history. It becomes obvious that the people of the South truly believed in the idea of slaves and never looked at it as a cruel and harsh thing. Instead, they thought of it as what it was to them...a tradition, and the way things truly should be. 

How can we hold it against the people of the past, when they grew up with it? It's kind of like me hating country music...all of my friends from Southern Ohio can't believe I have such a closed mind, but my argument is how in the world could I all of a sudden like country music if I never grew up with it!?

Those examples aren't very strongly related...but hopefully everyone can see my point. I definitely believe that the people of today who believe in slavery are wrong...but back in the days of the Civil War, the people of the South were simply fighting for what they believed in and they didn't know any better. 

I kind of hate it and love it when random things like this pop into my head...love it because it's fun to write them down, but hate it because they rarely make sense and become a bother to my brain until I finally jot them down! 

Hopefully I didn't lose anybody in this little entry...It's random after all!

Spring!

Ahh the smell of spring. (Then I usually sneeze...thank you seasonal allergies)

But in all seriousness, spring has arrived in Athens, Ohio. Along with 20,000 students all ready to party it up and ignore their classes. Unfortunately, the Scripps Journalism Gods have made it hard for me to enjoy this quarter due to the awful prerequisites we need before we take the good classes. 

Well, unless you count American Forests, Logic and Reasoning, Textual Analysis and Precision Language (intense grammar) as fun. I could have made my schedule easier, but it just seemed like the best decision to choose these so I have a better chance of studying abroad next year. 

Which, speaking of, I'm planning on applying for the Center of Fine Arts program in London next year. I'm really excited, but it does put pressure on me to do well, get as many classes as I can out of the way so I can graduate on time, and there is also the issue of money. As of now though, I've completely ignored the reality, and am just focusing on imagining myself in London. That's good enough for me now :)

Well, the sun is shining, birds are singing, and I'm about to go sit in classes until 3 o'clock. I guess that's the life of a college student :)

Let the madness begin...

Hello :)

It's been such a crazy insane weekend and week here that I've totally forgotten to update!

Well...first things first. Chicago. Ah, just the word makes me smile. I have found the place I want to work and live out of college. Honestly, I kind of already was thinking that, but all my hopes and dreams were confirmed this weekend. It is such a beautiful city and the professionals we met were nothing but gracious. The whole weekend was just such a great experience.

The agencies (Edelman, Ketchum, and OgilvyPR) were absolutely amazing. Quite high in skyscrapers, but amazing nonetheless! All the professionals were so young! And they really gave us great advice, and seemed to genuinely care about our future. I made a ton of new contacts, and really feel like I took the first step of the rest of my life :)

The people I went with made the trip even that much better. I met so many other PR students I probably wouldn't have met by just sitting in the weekly meetings. We all connected, and I honestly feel like I have made some really new and great friends. Plus, I can already tell we're going to be helping each other out in the future...or at least I hope they'll want to help the lonely freshman when I'm graduating! Scripps kids hold a bond...I'm not sure how tight that bond is yet, but I have a feeling that it's something that lasts a lifetime.

Well...that was Chicago. Now, I'm in my last week of classes for the quarter and then finals week. This is when the stress sets in. I feel as though I'm more prepared to dodge the stress though this quarter. My friends and I know each other better, we're spending more time taking study breaks than we did last quarter, and it's just more fun to be at school. Take tonight for example. It was in the 70's and we decided to take a walk around campus. We got smoothies, and chatted and I didn't feel like I was at school. I totally forgot about grades and tests and studying. Instead I felt like I was on vacation with some of my girl friends.

I hope my future continues to be this great. And I hope that I'm working hard enough to keep the greatness going :) Time will tell, but I just have a feeling that I'm on my way. 

And I've never felt better :)

PS-Check the Scripps web page for our Youtube video of the Chicago trip, which is supposed to be up sometime this week!  I can't wait to see it!

PPS-If you're looking for some good music, I suggest Drew Alexander and Goot, which you can find on Myspace music. Good and relaxing, yet pump-up music at the same time!

Chicago!

Chicago is probably one of the greatest cities on this Earth. Maybe I'm a little biased, but I think I could live here the rest of my life.

I'm here in Chicago for a PR networking trip. We toured and met with professionals from Edelman, Ketchum, and OgilvyPR today. One of the offices was on the 64th floor of the Aon Building...that was an adventure! And we walked around the entire city (at least it seemed that way!) in heels. That was also another adventure. We rode the L Train. Yesterday we shopped.

It's just an amazing place.

I'll write more when I have more time! And I'll post pictures!

Accepting Reality

It seems like inspiration always hits me after my Black Media screenings. Very surprising considering I can't stand sitting in a lecture hall for 3 hours after an already full day of classes! But even if I don't enjoy the class, the movie we watch is usually very thought provoking. 

Tonight we watched Dancing in September. It was a movie based on the racial problems in television when it comes to stereotypical portrayals of black characters in sitcoms. While it was a very good movie, the overall plot is unimportant to what I'm going to be discussing. 

I used to be the girl that was so caught up in the romance of movies, that I sort of lost track of reality. While this is not necessarily a bad thing, I would watch EVERY movie with a very critical eye, setting up characters to fall in love just because "they would look soooo cute together!". While this was a little ridiculous, I have suddenly realized my views on movies have changed.

Dancing in September is not a very happy movie. It's filled with angst, drama, and a lot of uncomfortable issues all crammed into a two hour film. Yet, I found myself being happy with the way the movie ended. It didn't end in a happy way, the main characters that "looked so cute together" didn't end up together, and there was far too much death and violence to be considered a happy ending. 

For some reason though, I found this fitting.

I sometimes think I've grown up a lot in the past few years. I've seen more and experienced more, and I believe this has contributed to my changing views. But then I think that I have so much more to experience...I live in a tiny college town, and while I see one hundred times more here than I did at home, it's still a very small part of the world and I know there is a lot more.

I think though, that I've come to accept that the world is not filled with happy endings. There is a harsh cruel aspect to life, that I have discovered, and wondered about all at the same time. I think this is why I've come to accept sad endings of movies. 

Sometimes, sadness is fitting.

I hope everybody can learn to accept new and different things that are outside of their comfort zone. It's extremely difficult to do, but once you accept the world for the way it is, rather than your hopes and illusions, it's easier to move on. Once you see the world in all of it's harsh and cruel and disillusioned facets, the beauty and the warmth that exists may be easier to see.

 Instead of pushing reality away, we should accept it, move on, and focus on the positive. That's really one of the things that I have found most important to me in my short time here so far in college.

Exploitation vs Entertainment

While I have time to blog due to the rain that suddenly hit after my Black Media class, I was still unsure about what to blog about until about two seconds ago.

Then it hit me. This week in Black Media we watched a documentary called Dreamworlds 3. I had also seen this in my Sociology class a few weeks early and you'll understand my weariness at watching it twice once I explain what it is about.

Dreamworlds 3 is basically slide show of scantily clad girls, rappers, rock stars, and champagne. A British man narrates and examines the objectification of women in music videos in a monotone voice. While this is a topic of extreme importance the way the video went about dissecting the issue could have been handled better. 

In fact, I believe the last ten minutes were the best part. At the end of the video, statistics about sexual abuse, sexual assault, and objectification of women were displayed on the screen along with testimonies of college men talking in a horrifying manner about women. Real life footage was shown of riots in New York City and Seattle where men took advantage of women at rallies and parades. 

This real life objectification of women was much more effective than the first 50 minutes of the documentary. 

While the video had a purpose to show and explain why the music industry is a good example of women being objectified, it went a little overboard. While I believe that no woman should ever be put in a situation where they are uncomfortable or assaulted, these examples were not necessarily the best way to get across the message. 

In reality, women in music videos audition for the part. They know what they are getting into, and they believe in what they are doing, because it's a means for money. While some people may believe that these dancers and sexualized women is degrading to the entire sex, I believe that it is mostly in the sake of entertainment. 

I understand why music video directors and producers cast beautiful women in their videos--sex sells. Why wouldn't you exploit the number one way to get viewers?

It may be morally wrong, or go against people's beliefs. But then why are there so many women still auditioning for these videos? Why are there so many women still watching these videos? It's part of our culture. I don't see how we could get rid of the exploitation of sex completely.

Many people disagree with me...and it is true that some men take what they see in videos literally and then try to live their lives like what they see on the screen. 

Just in my last post I discussed making sure you were ready to make decisions of importance. While these two posts may seem contradictory, I hope that people can see both sides. It's not as though I'm trying to tell you not to do something. I'm just encouraging using your brain to think things through. 

If the majority were opposed to these music videos, they wouldn't be around. Now, I ask everyone to just think about this objectification of women. Is it a horrific display of exploiting sex or is it purely entertainment?

You have heard my side, and now it's up to you to make your own opinions. If you're for or against these ideas, stand up and speak out. 

You'll never know who will hear you. 

Body vs. Heart

Tonight, I attended the weekly Campus Crusade meeting called 180. I am not a super religious person...I have my own views and I don't try to explain them to people. But I feel as though the Christian community is a strong group of people and they closely resemble the thoughts I feel about life and the world around me. Sometimes it's hard to accept the things that are said at these meetings because they can be hard to swallow. But I try to keep an open mind and I try to see all sides of the issue. 

Something tonight though, stuck in my mind and am so glad I heard it. Tonight we had a speaker who spoke about the sacredness of marriage, and the importance of a spiritual connection between married couples. What inspired me tonight though, wasn't what was said on a religious level, but more of what was said on an inspirational level. 

"Don't let your body make promises, that your heart isn't ready to keep."

Does that mean something to you? 

Sex is something that for some people is sacred, and for others is just a fun past time. What I took this quote to mean, is that we have the decision to make in our lives whether we want to share something so intimate that it's hardly talked about in day to day life, with someone that we care deeply about. I'm not condoning premarital sex, but I'm not saying it's a bad thing. Some are ready before others, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

All I'm asking of people living in this world today, is that they take a moment before they engage in sex, to ask themselves the question above. Can you let your body make a promise to your significant other if your heart isn't ready to keep it? 

It's a tough question to answer, but I believe it's an important one. The heart holds everything that is you, and your heart is ultimately your truth.

Who are you?

Having been infected with some nasty virus that makes me feel as though I'm coughing up a lung, I decided to refer to my favorite medicine to get me through. It's not DayQuil, Tylenol, or Advil. It's a two hour movie called Breakfast At Tiffany's, starring Audrey Hepburn.

Many people around campus have posters of Audrey in their dorm room...I am one of them! Something about her elegance in her black dress and sparkly jewelry, with that extended cigarette holder really makes you want to BE her. Or at least meet her. While this will never happen, watching her character Holly Golightly, is as close as I will ever get, and I've come to accept that. What surprises me though, is that from all the research I have done on Audrey Hepburn makes it clear that the real Audrey is nothing like the character she plays in Breakfast at Tiffany's. 

Holly Golightly is a flirtatious, eccentric, lost little girl in a big city. Audrey Hepburn was a strong independent woman with a love of charity and peace. She mentioned in interviews that she felt no connection with Holly, but felt that she could portray her from an actresses stand point. While this is, not going to lie, a disappointment, I feel somewhat comforted that a woman that so many look up to was not just one-sided. 

I connect with the independence of Audrey, and I always imagined her being just like her character in Breakfast at Tiffany's. I'm pretty sure the people with her picture plastered on their dorm walls feel the same way. But when I realized that Audrey Hepburn was not a flighty young girl who wore black dresses all the time with jewels cascading off her body, I took a moment to look at who I was.

I realized that I see myself as not a single facet. I am multi-faceted and go through these facets at an alarming rate. Sure, we're all different around our parents, and our friends, and our teachers. Yet, even when I'm with these different groups, I realized that I have different sides to me within my major personalities. I don't mean to make myself sound like I have multiple personality disorder! But I believe we all have different sides.

Many people see me as outgoing, sarcastic, and friendly. My mom saw me as a young girl who was shy, quiet, and unwilling to leave her side. I don't think I lost all of that, and I see these different sides of me more now, than ever before.

Living on my own in college is really a life experience that everyone should have. I now see myself as a whole individual. While I lived at home, I was loved and loved everyone around me. Now that I'm away, I know my family loves me, and I love them...it's just that I don't see it everyday. This has led me to look into myself, and realize that I love ME. I don't have a lot of time to myself here, with all my classes and friends and clubs. But when I am alone, I'm content. I don't try to distract myself from loneliness. I believe that sometimes loneliness is needed.

I encourage everyone to look at themselves and see how many different facets they have, just like Audrey Hepburn or Holly Golightly. You'll most likely become more comfortable by yourself if you can see who you really are. I don't mean to make this sound annoyingly deep, but it's something that I've noticed lately. 

I've been so much happier here at school, than I ever was when I didn't know WHO i was.

Ishmael Beah: Inspiration to Everyone

Ohio University has a great program that brings influential speakers to the campus and presents these people to the students and people in the community, sometimes free of charge. Tonight's speaker, was on a whole other level.

Ishmael Beah is 28 years old and has already experienced more horror, destruction and overall madness than most people experience in their lifetime. He is a former child soldier from Sierra Leone during the Civil War that erupted in the early 1990's. At just 11 years old, he was thrust from his home, had his parents and brother ripped away from him forever, and was brainwashed with drugs and violent training to become a child killing machine. 

While I won't relay his entire life story, it's hard for me to accept that such horrid things happen in the world. It is apparent to me that I am living in amazing conditions, with amazing people in my life. Yet, I am guilty of taking this for granted on a daily basis. What struck me most about Ishmael, was his current appreciation for the small things.

He told us a story of how he once found it funny to see his classmates (in New York after he had been rescued from Sierra Leone) complain about not having the best and the coolest gadgets out on the market. When they asked him what he was laughing about, he didn't give them an answer. What he confided to us, was that he found it funny to complain about something material like that, when he had nearly lost his life on a daily basis.

This was just one small story in the hour and half presentation he gave. While there were no pictures, no videos, and no sound clips, the way he used his words and the way he illustrated his experience with us gave just as much of a view into his past than a video would have done. 

I can't even begin to touch on the horror he described and the intensity in which he lived over those war years, and I plan on reading his memoirs, "A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier" and I encourage everyone else to do so as well. If it covers even a small bit of his past, it will open as many inspirations in you as it did in me. 

This is his website, and I hope that his story spreads even more than it already has.

http://www.alongwaygone.com/

  It is definitely a story that needs to be heard.

A Day In History

Well...it's been a whole quarter since I've written. It seems fitting that my first post back comes on one of the most historic days I have ever witnessed. Today, Barack Obama became President.

While many Obama supporters would enter in with a "YES WE DID" I'll keep it to a minimum. 

I come from a mainly Republican family, filled with McCain supporters and Obama haters. I hate to admit, but I was guilty of the hating as well. Yet, being on my own here at school has helped me to see both sides, and has helped me to have a more level head. (Something my father is in desperate need of!)

You can't really help who you support before you get to college. When you live with your parents, that's really all you have to go on. It was almost an instant thing when I arrived at college...the thought that I HAVE my own thoughts! Sure, I always considered myself independent and a free thinker...what I didn't realize was that I was too consumed with what I was surrounded with to actually be a free thinker. 

Barack Obama is making history, and I have finally come to accept that. I'm sick of the arguments going back and forth on Facebook walls, the ignorant insult throwing at one another across the street in front of the library, and I'm even sick of the factual arguments that go on in my upper level classes. It doesn't matter to me who THINKS they're right. We're never going to concede to let somebody of (GASP!) the OTHER SIDE win. In my mind, I don't really know what's the truth and what's not.

What I do know, is that we have the duty as Americans to support a person who is being thrust (sure, by choice, but nonetheless thrust) into a position where a 100% approval rating is virtually impossible. Obama will have his haters, and he will have his lovers. I hope to land somewhere in between. 

While it is important to have strong opinions, it is not so important that you should bash others beliefs or repeat your factual knowledge so many times it becomes background noise. How are people supposed to form opinions if they have two sides opinions crashing into their ears on either side. I believe that politics brings out an ugly side of people, and I hope that others have found their inner peace with this election result.

Anger is still a choice, bitterness is almost inevitable, yet it's done. It's over with. Now, as I've come to accept, we must live our lives and support our country in every way possible. 

(as a side note, I hope to actually keep updating this blog. hopefully I will be able to find interesting media clips, exciting stories, or somewhat intelligent commentary on what is going on in our world.)